Harvesting Answers

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA - For some reason, this weekend was the time for soy-related emails. There was a recent news release that mentioned the safety/danger of breast cancer patients eating soy, and people have been asking my thoughts. I don’t dispense medical advice – period. Not ever, and I’m guessing that I never will. I defer to my own oncologists, who have told me to stay away from it; the reasons are tied to my specific type of cancer and what may or may not exacerbate my relationship with said cancer. So I’ll do my best to avoid it, that’s my answer. You should talk to your doctor, really. It’s funny, isn’t it? A plant that has been used in China for about 5 thousand years (give or take a millennia) is now the subject of hot controversy. My recollection upon seeing my first soy plant was ‘wow, gross. That plant is hairy’. Keep in mind, I grew up in Illinois. I’ve seen my share of soy plants, and don’t even get me started about the amount of corn I’ve walked. That being said, however, I really wanted to write this for a few reasons. First, I think everyone should know by now that eating stuff that grows right out of the ground is far better than anything processed. Second, even if you think that, ask your doctor anyway. If you don’t have the kind of relationship with your doc that allows for questions like this, perhaps it’s time to find a new one; this is your life, and you’ve put it in their hands. You need to be able to get answers when needed! Let me say in closing that, as a history buff, I take delight in the fact that soy saved this nation (or at least part of it). When the actions that promulgated the dust bowl – that’s a post for another time – caused the soil in the prairies to erode, they planted soy. So thank you, soy, and the beauty of crop rotation. Now go call your doctor.